Brett Larson is due for some time off, but the new head coach of the St. Cloud State men’s ice hockey team is adamant that his respite will only last one night. 

“I’m scouting in Plymouth tomorrow,” Larson said on Friday afternoon during his introductory press conference at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. “The one thing about college hockey, is (that) the season never ends.”

Just after four in the morning on Sunday, April 8, Larson texted SCSU Athletic Director Heather Weems to engage in the interview process, just hours after his Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs upended Notre Dame to win their second NCAA national championship in seven seasons. 

“I definitely knew I was interested in the job before I came down,” Larson said of his initial visit with the SCSU brass on campus. “But after being here, man did I want this thing,” Larson continued. “I knew when I left here (that) it was a dream opportunity.”

Larson’s resume points to a dream hire for the Huskies, who in addition to coaching a litany of standout players in Duluth in two different stints, served as General Manager with the Sioux City (IA) Musketeers of the USHL from 2011-2013. Larson was also the head coach for the gold medal-winning Team USA at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge. Larson was named an associate head coach at Ohio State for two seasons before returning to Duluth in 2015.

Larson concluded his playing career in 2007 after seven professional seasons in North America and five in Europe.

“As an assistant coach during both of UMD’s national championships, and with a stop at Ohio State University during their program’s elevation, Coach Larson has proven himself a top recruiter and helped develop multiple players during their collegiate careers and as they advance to the next level of play,” Weems said in a press release by the university.

According to Weems, Larson’s contract will run through 2022, a five-year deal, and that the university will certainly try to retain the assistant coaches on staff.    

Larson said that he would retain the style of play instilled by former head coach Bob Motzko, with a premium placed on open play and creativity. 

“I want to keep an exciting style of hockey where players are free to make plays, and they’re not overwhelmed by a system,” Larson explained. 

When asked about the ingredients that comprise a championship team, Larson said that there is no real mystery behind success. 

“Hockey’s a simple game, and I don’t think there are a ton of secrets,” Larson said. “It’s getting the right players, the right kids all in it together.